Shirt protector



1943- s. LIGHTER 2,327,196

SHIRT PROTECTOR Filed April 23, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 1943- s. LEGHTER 2,327,196

SHIRT PROTECTOR Filed April 23, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTORMEMS Patented Aug. 17, 1943 mzusof omen 7 some ena'rlzsmme v The presentiin venticn relates; generally to im-- Movements in the art of wrapping laundered slif'rtsor the like, and relates morespeci fically' to an assemblage forfclding andtfor sub: sequentl y protecting shirts or similar garments after they have beenfresilifly laundered.

Au olbiect of the invention is to: provide an improved Shirl? protectol" which is simple in constructiom and effipient in use: 3 V

heretofore been proposed as shown in my prior Patent 2,243,356, granted 27, I941, to provide a protective wrapper or retainer for maintaining a laundered shirt in neatlyfolded condition and in proper shape; by'utiliziligashirt embracing band adapted to surround the foldedshirt' and having thereon a panel extending up ward-1y from the center of the front section orthoband, the panel Being cry-operable with the forward portion of the inner shirtcollar to'cesusethe panel to'swing upwardly, and; this panel bei-ng provided with opposite side tabs adapted to co-operate with the rear'surfacfe's of both collar lapels to prevent; crushing thereof. While this: prior shirt protector is entirely satisfactory mel ow-- tion and has gone into extensive commercial use,

it requires somemea-n's such as an elongatedp'late hingedly connected to the" upper extremity of the central panel and co-opera'ble with the interior of the inner shirt collar, in order to hold the" panel in upstanding position and the-tabs against the inner or rear surfaces of the lapel'sa It is also rather" difficult to remove an ordinary rectangul'ar fiat folding board fromashirt towhi'cn one ofthe prior protectors has been initial-Ivanplied, because cf'the' fbrmation'gof theshirt embraci ng band with interlocking ends. Then too, it. has been found that the use of the transverse collar" engaging plate for holding the panel" up, not esseii-tial and that valuable stock canbe saved byel'im-i'nating this reenforcihg plate;

It is thereforea: more specific object of my present invention to provide animproved shirt and collar protector of the-above described general type, wherein the collar lapel tabs or" sup-- ports aremaintained in active position by Causing tl-i'esame tocoact with the retainer or Band engages thesh-irt' bosom, thereby making it unnecessary to provide aninner collar stiffen-'- ing or re-enforcing" pia-te'. 7

Another specific object of this invention is-to provide a; new and useful shirt" protective device, which can be readily constructed with minimum stock, and whichmay also be quickly and convenientlyappiied to folded shirts 01: the like. v

A further specific object of the'present invention is to provide an improved shirt folding and retaining assemblage which can be readily mam-1:

' mated to neatly fold ar'rdto subsequently main tain shirts? in sfiape and folded condition, without" utilizing separatefasteners of any 1cm.

Still another specific object" of my invention is to provliie an extremely simple and highly effectiveshirt and collar protector whieEr is attractfw in appearance and whichmaybe menu-- facturecf and sold at moderate cost.

'l'fireseand' other specific objects and advantages offlliefn vention will' be apparent from thefollowing detailed description.

A clear conception of embodiments of the sev-- em features constituting the present" improvement, and oftlie mode offconstructing and of applying the invention to folded shirts; may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a; part of this specification wlierem like reference cfraracters similar parts iii various views.

Fig". lie a,- plan view of a typical folded shirt imposed thereon preparatory to application of the protector;

Fig. 2 i's a perspective View of the finally-em- Wrapped and protected folded shirt orFia- I with the folding board removed; 7 7 Q r Fig 3 is a: fragmentary top view of the proteeter fiype show-nin- Fi'gs. I and showinghow the central panel is maintained elevated by the opposite-land supports;'

mg; 4 is: a; bottom or end view oi the: protector of Figs. I to 3 inclusive; showing tile same asseml a'led but removed from the-shirt:

Fig; 5 is a plan view of a modified improved shirt and collar protector, having arr inn-er shirt collar re-en-forei ng plate associated therewith;

Fig; 6 a plain- View of a folded shirt simfl alr tcthat of Ig'bu-twith the modified protector of'lflgz 5 initial-1 y superimposed thereon; and

Fig. Ti e a'perspecti ve view of a final shirt package enwiaed with the modified type or protector Y Wfiiletlieinvention has been shown and de scrilocd lierein as: having been incorporated in shirti Wrapper and" protectiveassembl'a'ge's formed protector disclosed therein is especially (TU-01361- able with a shirt 9 which has been neatly folded about a flat folding board I9 and has a collar consisting f inner and outer portions II, I2 respectively, the latter of which has front wings or lapels IS. The protector shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive comprises in general a laterally elongated retainer I l formed to extend transversely across the bosom I5 of the folded shirt 9 below the two part collar; a relatively narrow panel I6 projecting upwardly from the center of the upper front section I! of the retainer; and a pair of supports I8 for the collar lapels I3, extending laterally away from the opposite sides of the panel I8, and each having its end I9 farthest from the panel I6 recessed for interlocking coaction with notched portions formed on the retainer i4 so as to maintain the panel I6 in elevated condition relative to the plane of the shirt bossom I5.

While the flat shirt folding board I9 which may be formed of metal, cardboard, or othersuitable stiff sheet material, is of generally rectangular shape, theopposite lower side portions of this board II are preferably provided with indentations or recesses 2I as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, for purposes to be later explained.

The improved protector is preferably formed of a single sheet of cardboard or the like with the grain running lengthwise of the retainer .I4; and this retainer is also preferably formed as a band adapted to snugly-embrace a folded-shirt 9, and with its opposite end portions provided with interlockable notches or slits 22, 23. 'While only one fastening slit 22 is required, it is desirable to provide several complementary fastening slits '23 in order to accommodate folded. shirts 9 of different widths; and the slits 22,23 are so formed that :the band retainer I4 during assemblage thereon, must first be pulled inwardly beyond its final folded position, and subsequently released and stretched outwardly, in order to insure proper interlocking of the coacting slits 22', 23. The opposite side recesses 2| of the folding board I9 willaccommodate this initial inward pulling ofthe'ends of the retainer band I4 during interlocking of these ends, and the band may thus be conveniently and quickly assembled without the aid of separate fasteners or adhesives. 1 a

The central panel I5 is preferably tapered as shown, and is hingedly connected to-the retainer I4alonga score line 24 so as to permit the panel IS to be readily elevated. The opposite side supports l8 may also be hingedly connected to the sides of the panel along score lines 25, but these score lines are not essential. These supports I8 may be out directly from the stock of the transverse retainer I4, thereby leaving upwardly project-ing parts 25 at the opposite sides of the front section of the retainerband, which serve to ultimately protect the shoulder portions of the folded shirt 9. The recessed ends I9 of the supports I8 are formed to interlock with the notched inwardly projectingresilient portions 29 of the retainer I4 so as to hold the panel I6 in elevated position and the supports I8 against the inner or rear surfaces of thecollar lapels I3, when the protector is finally assembled upon the shirt 9. When utilizing the invention as depicted in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the shirt 9 should first be neatly and compactly folded. about the fiat board I9, after which the fiat protector should be positioned across the shirt bosom I5 and with the parts26 thereof beneath the-tips of the collar 1apels'I3 as shown in Fig. 1. The narrowed and slitted end portions of the retainer I4 will then be disposed in horizontal alinement with the side recesses 2| of the folding board I0, and these retainer end portions may then be folded along score lines 21 and interconnected at the rear of the folded shirt 9 to cause the band to snugly embrace the shirt assemblage. This operation is naturally facilitated by the recesses 2I at the opposite sides of the lower portion of the board I 9; and when the retainer I4 has been thus caused to embrace the shirt 9, the band may be moved upwardly toward the collar beneath the lapels i3. This upward movement of the band retainer I4 may be accomplished by grasping the side supports I8 between two fingers to bend the same slightly inward, and by simultaneously pulling upwardly, and the panel I6 will then ride along the front part of the inner collar portion i i and will be elevated at an oblique angle to the plane of the shirt bosom I5. As the panel I6 approaches its finally assembled position, the recessed ends I9 of the supports I8 will engage the notched adjacent portions 20 of the retainer I4 and will become interlocked therewith, and upon release of the supports I8 by the operator, these supports will snugly engage the inner faces of the lapels I3 and will maintain these lapels in proper position while at the same time holding the inner collar band I I erect. The protector is shown assembled in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and when properly applied will retain the shirt 9 and its collar in neatly wrapped condition, even after the folding board Illis removed.

Referring specifically to Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, the wrapping and protecting assemblage shown therein is the same in all respects to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, but the modified protector is additionally provided with a transverse upper retainer plate 28 which is hingedly connected to the upper extremity of the central panel it by means of a short transition section 29 having slits 3d at the opposite sides thereof. The plate 23 is preferably formed integral with the panel I8 and from the same piece of sheet stock from which the retainer I6, panel i5 and supports I 3 are produced; and when the modified protector is initially applied to a-folded' hirt fi, the transverse plate should be disposed over the collar lapels 63 as shown in Fig. '6.

When the band retainer 54 has been applied around the folded shirt 9 and is moved toward the collar, and the panel id and supports I8 have been assembled beneath the lapels I3, the transverse plate 28 may befolded at the transition section 29 into the inner collar portion II,

as in Fig. 7. The plate 22 will therefore additionally re-enforce the shirt collar assemblage and will retain the ame in proper shape even after removal of the folding board IQ.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that my present invention provides an improved shirt protector which is'simple in construction and highly efiicient in use. The

improved device is especially adapted to maintain the collar lapels of a folded shirt in proper position and to prevent crushing or wrinkling thereof, and the new protector can be readily constructed with minimum waste of stock and may also be quickly and conveniently applied to folded shirts without utilizing adhesives or separate fasteners of any kind. Both types of the improved protector, illustrated and described herein will most effectively co-operate with the collar lapels of the shirts, and neither of these types Will tend to crush the outer collar inwardly as has been done with prior shirt wrappers and protector wherein wings were caused to extend outwardly over the top of the collar lapels. In each of the embodiments, the narrow panel is is firmly maintained on the order of an easel, in upstanding position, by the lateral supports I8 the extreme ends of which are so formed that they will dig into the soft shirt when engaged by the resilient notched portions 25 of the retainer M. The tripod produced by the panel i5 co-cperating with the opposite side supports 18, provides a rigid supporting assemblage for the shirt collar, and can be used either alone as in Figs. 1 to 4, or in conjunction with a panel 28 such as shown in Figs. 5 to 'Land the tripod can be quickly and conveniently assembled and interlocked with the retainer band notches 2E? beneath the outer collar portion The improved shirt wrapper has proven highly effective in actual use, is attractive in appearance, and may be manufactured and sold at moderate cost.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications Within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim: 7 r r l. A shirt protector comprising, a retainer formed to extend transversely across the bosom of a folded shirt below the shirt collar and having laterally separated notched portions, a relatively narrow panel projecting upwardly from the center of the front section of said retainer,

tions so as to maintain the panel in elevated condition relative to the plane of the shirt bosom when the protector is applied to a shirt.

2. A shirt protector as per claim 1, characterized thereby, that the panel is hingedly connected to the retainer, and that the ends of said collar supports are also notched for interlocking coaction with the retainer notches.

3. A shirt protector as per claim 1, characterized thereby, that the retainer is a band adapted to snugly embrace the shirt and having its opposite ends formed for inter-connection at the rear of the shirt.

4. A shirt protector as per claim 1, characterized thereby, that the shirt embracing retainer band with inter-connectible opposite ends and the panel and the lapel supports are formed of a single sheet of stock, and that the supports are formed of stock derived from the body of the band.

5. A shirt protector as per claim 1, characterized thereby, that the protector has a flexible collar re-enforcing plate associated with the upper end of the panel and co-operable with the interior of the collar band.

6. A shirt protector as per claim 1, characterized thereby, that the flexible collar re-enforcing plate which is associated with the upper end of the panel is formed integral with the remainder of the protector, and has its medial portion hingedly connected with the upper panel end.

7. A shirt protector as per claim 1, characterized thereby, that a fiat board which is insertable within the shirt during folding thereof, is provided with opposite side recesses which are cooperable with the shirt embracing retainer band or" the protector in order to facilitate inter-connection of the band ends.

8., A shirt protector as per claim 1, characterized thereby, that the inter-connectible ends of the shirt embracing retainer band are slitted to permit detachable slip connection of said ends and to accommodate shirt packages of different widths.

9. A shirt protector as per claim 1, characterized thereby, that the collar lapel supports are hingedly connected to the opposite sides of the panel, and that the opposite sides of the panel are tapered upwardly toward each other.

10. A shirt protector comprising, a retainer formed to extend transversely across the bosom of a folded shirt and about the rear of the shirt below the collar and having laterally separated notched upper portions equi-distant from its central axis, a relatively narrow upwardly tapering panel formed integral with and projecting upwardly from said retainer midway between said notched portions, and a collar lapel support extending laterally from each side of said panel and being formed integral therewith, each of said supports having its end farthest from said panel notched for coaction with said notched retainer portions so as to maintain the panel in elevated condition relative to the plane of the shirt bosom when the protector is applied to a shirt.

STEPHEN LIGHTER. 

